Thursday, December 18, 2008

New Saddleback Protest?

I'm proposing another Protest on Jan 18th at Saddleback. What do you all think? Who's in?

Considering Obama picked Warren to speak at his inauguration and considering Rick Warren has compared gay couples to incest...

Rick Warren is definitely climbing the anti-gay anti-equality list really fast. I don't think people are going to buy his "I'm accepting of gays" statement much longer and are starting to see right through that.

21 comments:

Kelly said...

I think that is a good idea. I'd go!

Charles said...

I will be there too.

Charles said...

Why don't you protest Obama instead?

Saddleback Prop 8 Protest said...

Charles,
Gay people are already pulling out of attendance at Obama's inauguration. There will probably be more and this won't go away any time soon.

Why not Rick & Saddleback? He needs to stop pretending gays are welcome in his church and then marginalize us, compare our relationship to incest and make us feel like less of a person than we are for being in our relationships.

I don't think Jesus who tell gay people they can come to his church but then can't become members. I don't think Jesus would deny speaking with gay rights advocates (as Rick has done on several occasions).

Rick & Others like him need to stop using religion as a battering ram against our love.

Charles said...

Feel free to protest Saddleback, but I hadn't heard any efforts to protest The One who actually invited Pastor Rick to give the invocation. That was my point.

As for "pretending gays are welcome in his church" unmarried heterosexuals living in sin cannot be members either, but everyone is welcome to attend and learn about the Gospel. The Bible is very clear about that, but Pastor Rick is not Jesus, so he only has a finite amount of time to speak with everyone who wants to. I understand you think it is "marginalizing" but sin is sin. That is God's Word, not mine or Pastor Rick's.

Finally, no one is comparing your relationship to incest, other than to point out both are sin. Our concerns about allowing same-sex marriage leading to legalizing incest, polygamy, or other "loving relationships" is certainly one reason, but not the only reason we voted for Prop. 8.

Charles said...

Do you think that Rick & Others like him need to stop using religion as a battering ram against incest? Do you think that Rick & Others like him need to stop using religion as a battering ram against polygamy?

Anonymous said...

Have you given any thought to organizing a group to attend a service? Given some recent reports that Warren refuses membership to "unrepentant gays," it might be interesting to organize, enter, and participate in services (not disrupt, but participate -- with some kind of unifying, identifying uniform or whatnot.). Perhaps you could enter inconspicuously and remove a jacket or sweater when you got inside revealing who you are, etc.

Charles said...

I didn't see any protesters this weekend.

Audra said...

I'm there!

Charles said...

To be clear, Pastor Rick compared same-sex marriage (not all homosexuals) to incestuous and polygamous marriage. Whether you like it or not, those minority groups will be clamoring for their "rights" after the dust settles from this fight. You should change your blog name back to "Saddleback" protest; then when you are done with it, sell it to the next minority group.

Saddleback Prop 8 Protest said...

Charles - Rick DID compare gay relationships to incest and child molestation. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ce1ILmS5yMo&eurl=http://www.lesbiatopia.com/2008/12/obama-rips-gays-with-rick-warren-choice.html&feature=player_embedded

Saddleback Prop 8 Protest said...

Charles - Maybe we should protest Obama. I can tell you now that he has lost my vote for 2012 unless he makes some very obvious progress toward gay rights. Probably lost the votes of MANY gays as well who voted for him. Sadly, the gay rights organization HRC is not much more than a political arm of the democratic party so they pretty much endorse anyone who is a democrat even if they are not 100% for gay rights. Personally I will vote Libertarian next time. They won't win but I know they won't stab me in the back on gay rights issues.

Charles said...

Rick Warren compared same-sex marriage (different than all "gay relationships").

Saddleback Prop 8 Protest said...

yes fair enough on the correction. But that is HIGHLY offensive to any gay person who support marriage equality. You can actually go to jail for the other things he compared gay marriage too. Any self respecting gay person shouldn't even think twice about wanting to go to his church. It's a no brainer.

Charles said...

I'm glad we settled that : )

Charles said...

brokenfinger (sorry to hear about that):

Wouldn't that be as much a "disruption" as KKK members going into a black church and then putting on white hoods?

Charles said...

I think I posted this once before, but just in case anyone hasn't seen California Penal Code Section 302:

(a) Every person who intentionally disturbs or disquiets any assemblage of people met for religious worship at a tax-exempt place of worship, by profane discourse, rude or indecent behavior, or by any unnecessary noise, either within the place where the meeting is held, or so near it as to disturb the order and solemnity of the meeting, is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by imprisonment in a county jail for a period not exceeding one year, or by both that fine and imprisonment.

Saddleback Prop 8 Protest said...

Charles,
Yes - you can't do a protest within church grounds or face arrest. But you can protest all you want on public grounds (ie streets around Saddleback). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_assembly

Charles said...

Sidewalks, not streets. But even from the sidewalks, you cannot be so loud or obnoxious as to disturb the order and solemnity of the worhip service.

Unknown said...

is this happening on january 19?
i am a straight, orange county HOUSEWIFE who happens to Rick Warren needs to be outed, protested and asked "GOT MILK, Rick?" The dude is 20 years behind the times. (see the movie, meet your friends and family...) Protesting there sends a message to him and his congregation that its just not okay to be anti-gay.
So? Are we there to share the love or what?

Charles said...

Do you think it's "okay" to be anti-adult-brother-marrying-his-adult-sister?